Rumour Mill-Alex Bruce

The Daily Mail have reported that Ipswich have decided not to offer defender Alex Bruce a new deal and he will now be out of contract in the summer.

Ipswich however will be keen to get a fee for the Republic of Ireland international, who has rarely been involved in the Tractor Boys campaign this season

Burnley have once more been linked to the player in the Daily Mail and the 24-year-old is also being tracked by Norwich, Fiorentina, Genoa, Napoli and Preston.

Alex is the son of Wigan manager, Steve Bruce and indeed was born in Norwich while his father was a footballer at the club.

After being part of Manchester United's Academy he joined Blackburn Rovers as a trainee in 2002.

He signed on a free transfer for Birmingham City, where his father was manager, in January 2005 before joining Ipswich in the summer of 2006 on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract. Bruce has also had loan spells at Oldham (twice), Sheffield Wednesday and Tranmere Rovers.

The Clarets were linked with the defender in the close season and the link again could just be idle media gossip because of that fact. It is however clear that after losing loan Russell Anderson for the rest of the season to cruciate ligament damage and the difficulties we have had in selecting a consistent back four recently that another defender could well be a target for Coyle in the January window.

The Italian clubs though could well be the favourites to sign the unsettled defender.

It is understood that Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni may have recommended Bruce to the three Serie A sides and that over the weekend, Fiorentina, Genoa and Napoli were all reported to be keeping an eye on the player with The Viola particularly interested